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by:
The Observer Staff

Francis Lee Hick
Francis Lee Hick, 71, of Bradenton, and formerly of Vandergrift and Loatrobe, Pa., died May 20.

Born Jan. 12, 1938, in Bell Point, Pa., Mr. Hick worked at General Motors, in Lordstown, Ohio, and Volkswagen of America, in New Stanton, Pa. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and was activated to duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

After moving to Bradenton in 1988, he and his wife, Roni, opened and operated Key Cleaners and Linen Service on Longboat Key. Upon his retirement after 18 years, Mr. Hick passed on his family business to his daughter, Dana.

Mr. Hick was a member of the Sahib Shrine of Sarasota and the Moose Lodge of Anna Maria. He was a 32nd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rite Fraternity and lifetime member of the B.P.O. Elks Lodge, in Bradenton.

Mr. Hick is survived by his wife of 51 years, Veronica; two daughters, Jody Yunetz, of Latrobe, Pa., and Dana Porterfield, of Longboat Key; two sisters, Lorraine Adam, of Bradenton, and Shirley Legarsky, of Apollo, Pa.; four grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. May 28, at Christ Episcopal Church, 4030 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Mr. Hick to Christ Episcopal Church.

Helene Reynolds
Helene Reynolds, 83, of Longboat Key, died May 8.

Born Nov. 11, 1925 in a small village in Hunterdon County, N.J., Mrs. Reynolds graduated from High Bridge High School in 1943 and then attended Churchill Business College during World War II.

On June 21, 1946, she married Floyd Reynolds, of High Bridge, N.J., who had recently returned from service with the 82nd Airborne Paratroopers in the Pacific. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds restored a Queen Anne Victorian home, in Glen Gardner, N.J., and raised two sons.

Mrs. Reynolds was a secretary for District Court Judge Warren Herrigal, in Flemington, N.J., for 27 years.

In 1985, Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds moved to Spanish Main Yacht Club, on Longboat Key, where Mrs. Reynolds enjoyed bridge, swimming, beachcombing, bicycling, tennis and golf. She volunteered at Mote Marine Laboratory, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Woman’s Exchange Inc. She was a regular at Spanish Main social events, where she was often referred to as the “Energizer Bunny.” She was a member of Longboat Island Chapel.

Mrs. Reynolds loved people, parties, clothes, antiques, swimming, desserts, fun, friends and holidays.
When children visited Spanish Main’s pool, she was often the first to suggest a game of Marco Polo. Family and friends remember her enthusiasm for life, knack for discovering bargains and talent for sales. She enjoyed holding garage sales, and her motto was: “If something doesn’t sell after a half hour, raise the price.”

Mrs. Reynolds was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd. She is survived by her sons, Mark, of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Kevin, of Hockessin, Del.; sister, Rose Mingione, of Santa Rosa, Calif.; five grandchildren; and other relatives.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, June 8, at Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to TideWell Hospice & Palliative Care, 3355 26th St. W., Bradenton, Fla., 34205.